Behind the Scenes and songs were shot in Jaipur. It was during the shooting of Adimai Penn that MGR was gifted a fur cap by the then Rajasthan Chief Minister Mohanlal Sukhadia. Over the years, MGR's cap along with the dark glasses, became a trademark feature of the actor.
Since the bullet wound was still visible (MGR was shot by actor M.R.Radha at the former's residence in 1967), the makers decided to protect the sensitive area with a leather band, which ultimately became his makeover for the film. This turned to be a unique fashion statement, says director P.Vasu, whose father, Peethambaram, was MGR's personal make-up artist. More on Adimai Penn in the below article published by The Hindu dated 1st May 2019.
Sri Bala Murugan Films Thazhampoo movie was released on 23rd October 1965. This 23rd is the Golden jubilee year. Thazhampoo is a black and white movie, which had a 50 days run.
MGR character name is Durairajan, but only called as Durai in the entire movie. K.R.Vijaya is the heroine, Nambiyar and M.R.Radha were the movie villains. Story is by Kottarakara, screenplay by G.Balasubramaniam and dialogs by Aroordass. Music is composed by K.V.Mahadevan and lyrics by Kannadasan, Vali, Alangudi Somu and Trichy Thiyagarajan.
The real graduation scene of MGR is merged with the background, the above image is created using photoshop.
As part of the work for 50th year of Thazhampoo movie release, I happened to see a screen shot showing list of theatres surprisingly most of the movies shown are of 1965. Some movie titles are clearly visibly they are:
Vizhupuram Vijaya – Vazhkaipadagu
Vizhupuram Seetharam – Enga Veetu Pillai
Arcot Jothi – Enga Veetu Pillai
Kanchipuram Raja – Thaiyum Magalum
Kanchipuram Murugan – Yanaipagan
Aarani National – Enga Veetu Pillai
Ambur (Theatre name not legible) – Chakravarthi Thirumagal
Some theatres name illegible but movie names are clear, Poojaiku vantha malar, Vennira Aadai and Panchavarnakili.
Click the above image to enlarge.
Veteran actress Manorama passed away yesterday at the age of 78. She has acted with our Puratchi Thalaivar MGR in many movies such as Vettaikaran, Thanipiravi, Padagotti, Kanchi Thalaivan, Ther Thiruvizha, Vivasahi, Kalangarai Vilakkam, Thazhampoo, Engal Thangam, Chandrodhayam and Neerum Nerupum etc.,
She has the distinction to have acted with five Chief Ministers, with Peraringnar Anna and Karunanidhi in drama, MGR, Jayalalitha and N.T.Ramarao in films.
Her memorable movies with MGR which had occupied screen space with him are less, they are as an quarrelling wife of Nagesh in Chandrodhayam, fisherwoman in Padagotti and as a spy of Narasimha Pallavan in Kanchi Thalaivan.
We srimgr.com team prays for her soul to rest in peace.
Kalangarai Vilakkam is a mystery thriller movie which was released on 28th August 1965, today 28.8.2015 is the Golden jubilee year. The movie was produced by Saravana Films G.N.Velumani and directed by K.Shankar. Our Puratchi Thalaivar MGR acted as an advocate.
Cast and Characters:
MGR
Raviprotagonist of the film, lawyer by profession.
Sarojadevi
Neela, having split personality problem obsessed with Pallava history and fictional character Sivakami.
Mallika, sister of Gowri, professional dancer.
V.Gopalakrishnan
Dr.Gopal from Mahabalipuram who treats Neela’s illness.
Nagesh & Veerappan
Vasu and Devan two guides from Mahabalipuram.
M.N.Nambiyar
Antagonist of the movie, Nagarajan, obsessed with money who also kills his own brother.
K.D.Santhanam
Rich person, Father of Neela and elder brother of Nagarajan.
G.Sakunthala
Gowri, Nagarajan’s lover and she has a sister named Mallika who looks like Neela.
Manorama
Mohini, who marries one of the Mahabalipuram guide.
Story:
Ravi (MGR) who is the top most lawyer and an artist, on his court holiday visits Mahabalipuram, there on the middle of the road he finds a girl, Neela (Sarojadevi) dancing. She goes up the Lighthouse and tries to commit suicide, Ravi holds her and finds that she is obsessed with Pallava history and fictional character Sivakami. Ravi says that he is King Narasimhavarman (the lover of Sivakami in the story Sivakamiyin Sambatham) she changes her mind, at the same time Dr.Gopal (V.Gopalakrishnan) friend of Ravi comes in search of Neela. They both take her to her home. Her father who is paralysed, thanks Ravi for his timely help, he also finds that Ravi’s father Chinnadurai is his old friend. Nagarajan (Nambiyar) his younger brother enters the scene and apologies for his negligence. Neela’s father explains that Neela who is a historical researcher on Pallava reign had a fall in the library then she had this problem (split personality disorder). Then he asks Ravi to stay with him until Neela gets treated.
The days roll by Dr.Gopal gets imported medicine for the treatment. Neela starts to show the sign of recovery. All of them feels happy except Nagarajan who has an eye over the estate of his brother. He visits his lover’s home, Gowri (G.Sakunthala) who begs him to marry her and that she can lead a respectful life. Nagarajan promises that if his plans work well then he will amaze his brothers property after the death of his brother and his daughter. He ask Gowri’s help by sending her sister Mallika who looks like Neela. She hesitates first but later she accepts.
During new moon day Neela’s father gives his last will and testament to Ravi and ask him to go through, if he finds all the points are satisfactory to him, then register the Will. Ravi objects the points in the Will stating that he has blind faith over him. Neela’s father ask him to be the executor of the Will and estate and also marry Neela. He also asks to accompany Neela for a walk. Ravi takes her outside, the split personality arises when Neela hears a rhythmic tapping. Ravi comes to know that fact and tries his best to avoid.
Meanwhile Nagarajan messes with Ravi’s car and takes Neela with him. Instead going to her home, Nagarajan takes her to his secret place and she is held as captive. Now he replaces Neela with Mallika. He takes her to Neela’s house. Ravi suspects her. The next day when Mallika walks outside one of Nagarajan’s men mistakes her as Neela and tries to take her back. Ravi comes in time and thrashes the goons while fighting Mallika gets hurt in the back. The cut was deep and she is treated by Dr.Gopal.
After this incidence Dr.Gopal comes to know that Ravi is in love with Neela, and Ravi paints a portrait of Neela. Nagarajan ask Mallika to get the attention of Ravi and get him to the Lighthouse. She does what she was told after entering the lighthouse, Nagarajan men grabs her, at the same time Nagarajan on top of the lighthouse throws Neela down. When Ravi and Dr.Gopal reaches the lighthouse they witnesses the fall of Neela, Ravi grabs her while Dr.Gopal checks her pulse and pronounce that Neela has died from the fall.
Ravi and Dr.Gopal enters the room of Neela’s father for taking leave but they find that Neela’s father had swollen sleeping pills and had died. Nagarajan becomes the owner of the estate of the deceased. Dr.Gopal who is the best friend of Ravi tries his best to get Ravi back to normal life. He takes him to a dance programme with the of Bharathidasan songs. There they happen to meet Mallika who performs for the song “Sangay Muzhangu” They both feel that Neela is alive. In the makeup room Ravi peeks inside and sees that Mallika’s back has the scar from the fighting incident and tells this to Dr.Gopal.
Now Ravi plans to meet Mallika through Dr.Gopal, he tells Mallika that Ravi has fallen love with Neela who died from the fall from the lighthouse. She feels pity for Ravi and due course she falls in love with Ravi. Nagarajan comes to know about this love and Mallika wishing Ravi to marry, Nagarajan ask Mallika to invite him to the house, but he plans to kill Ravi through his henchmen. Ravi goes to meet Mallika but was confronted by Nagarajan men, he fights and gets hold of one of his men (Puthur Natarajan) who tells the whereabouts of Mallika.
Ravi sends Dr.Gopal again to ask Mallika for the marriage, she accepts and she marries Ravi without the knowledge of Nagarajan. Gowri asks one promise from Mallika that she will not reveal what has happened in Mahabalipuram.
On the first night Ravi while speaking with Mallika taps rhythmically to provoke her split personality but understands that she has no reaction for the tapping. Then Ravi makes a drama and then she says about her stay in Mahabalipuram. Ravi mentions this to Dr.Gopal and they make a plan that Ravi is mentally sick and will become good only when he goes back to Mahabalipuram. As planned Mallika visits her sister Gowri to get the permission to visit Mahabalipuram for the remedy of her husband, with hesitation she permits, but the news reaches Nagarajan who tries to stop her, Ravi and Nagarajan fights out and Nagarajan gets injured.
On reaching Mahabalipuram Ravi tries to get the answer from Mallika, she tells the truth to him but she does not know what happened after that. Ravi does not accept what she says, to prove her innocence, Mallika rushes to the lighthouse. At the same time Gowri comes there and reveals the full truth that Mallika has acted as Neela and Nagarajan killed Neela by pushing her from the lighthouse. Nagarajan enters the scene but Gowri swallows the poison takes her life, same time a dummy dressed as Mallika falls from the lighthouse which gives an impression to Nagarajan that Mallika also died, Nagarajan in villainous trance laughs and tells Ravi that he had killed not only Neela but also his own brother. He further mentions there is no evidence to prove him guilty as the two prime evidences Gowri and Mallika had died.
Ravi’s plan ends perfectly as Police and Magistrate who were hiding behind the rocks had recorded the whole truth as Nagarajan mentioned everything he had did. Police arrests Nagarajan and Mallika. The Court condemns him to death penalty and Mallika who had indirectly helped the murder gets 3 months prison sentence. After 3 months Ravi and Mallika gets united and they live happily ever after.
Songs:
1. Ennai Marathathen – solo song for Sarojadevi
2. Pon ezhil puthathu – duet song
3. Sangay Muzhangu – song for Sarojadevi
4. Naan Katru vanga – solo song for MGR
5. Enna Uravoo – solo song for MGR
6. Pallavan Pallavi – solo song for MGR
Duet song uploaded by Raj Video vision.
All the six mesmerizing songs and background music was composed by M.S.Viswanathan. Apart from Kannadasan and Vaali, Panchu Arunachalam who was working as an assistant to Kannadasan penned the song - Pon Ezhil puthathu.
In the duet song Pon Ezhil, MGR looks very charming his flattened stomach, broad shoulders, graceful look, bewitching smile even in black and white he captivates us. Imagine how his fans should have reacted when Sarojadevi watches the transformation of Ravi into Narasimhavarman, the camera begins to focus and show the mighty stance of Narasimhavarman on screen. For the couple of days I was watching this song again and again still my desire not fulfilled. Rightful to the lyric “pon” gold “ezhil” beauty.
MGR has done the Narasimhavarman character twice, once in Kanchi Thalaivan movie and secondly in Kalangarai Vilakkam. To my knowledge maybe he is the only one to do the character twice.
Click the above images for the clippings from Kalangarai Vilakkam.
Kalangarai Vilakkam had only one element taken from the movie Vertigo that is changing the person before the kill. All the other elements of the movie is entirely of script writer.
Some of the images are from The Hindu Tamil edition. Some images from MGR Devotees Bangalore S.Vinod and Venkat.
Today 22.2.2013 is the 50th Anniversary or Golden Jubilee Year of Devar Films and our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s social movie Dharmam Thalai Kakkum.
MGR acted as a Doctor in this movie and the heroine is Sarojadevi. M.R.Radha, S.A.Asokan were supporting actors. But in this movie it was Asokan who is the villain.
Paper cuts for the release of Dharmam Thalai Kakum.
The above banner is from Mahalakshmi theater during the re-release of Dharmam Thalai Kakum.
Songs in this movie are:
1. Thotu vida thotu vida – Duet song
2. Dharmam Thalai Kakum – Philosophical song
3. Oruvan Manathu – Philosophical song
4. Hello Hello – Duet song
5. Paravaigala
6. Moodupani
Dharmam Thalai Kakum song (needless to say the proverb, dharma saved his life 2 times)
Final scene for the title.
This video is captured during the re-release of Dharmam Thalai Kakum in Mahalakshmi theater.
This is the 100th post of the year 2011. The landmark was all possible by MGR Devotees and MGR Fans such as Yukesh Babu, Sathya, Sailesh Basu (UAE), Tirupur Ravichandran, Bangalore S.Vinod, Olikirathu Urimaikural Editor B.S.Raju, Venkat and others. For me alone it takes about 4 or 5 days for updating one post, the people above mentioned have helped me in updating our beloved Leader Purtachi Thalaivar MGR blog regularly, that is nearly one post every 2 or 3 days.
Thirudathe 50th year function was celebrated in German Hall, Chennai on 14th August 2011. And a special edition was released by Mrs.Saroja Devi.
Nagai Dharuman received MGR Award from Pulavar Pulamaipithan, the persons near them are Thirupur Ravichandran, B.S.Raju and Theni Rajadasan.
Sathya Studio Manager Hari also received the MGR Award from Pulavar Pulamaipithan.
One of the oldest MGR Fans Duraisamy from Coimbatore an Engineer in profession was felicitated in the function.
Director Saroj Kumar was also felicitated in this function near to him is B.S.Raju, Editor Urimaikural MGR Magazine.
Concluding speech by Pulavar Pulamaipithan, down memory lane.
Tutucorin MGR Fans association was congratulated for their work in casting MGR name in Guinness Book of Records for screening more than 100 MGR movies consecutively in Tutucorin Sathya Theater, I have already updated this event in our blog.
Second from left is T.T.Selvan. To the extreme right in the photo is So.Ma.Velandi who traced down Jeya Mohan when he indecently wrote about MGR and Sivaji in his blog in 2008.
MGR Devotees were also encouraged by Pulavar Pulamaipithan in this function in the photo is B.S.Raju, Pulavar Pulamaipithan, MGR Devotee Yukesh Babu and Alandur Kumar.
Yesa Durai (ADMK) from Tutucorin was felicitated by Pulavar Pulamaipithan who was also responsible for screening more than 100 MGR movies in Tutucorin Sathya theater for Guinness Record.
Coming Soon the video of MGR movies Golden Jubilee function.
This is my experiment with 18 lakhs. This was said by MGR in 1958 after stupendous success of the Movie Nadodi Mannan. How humble he is. The movie was a revolutionary in tamil cinema. It had showed the movie world a new way of story telling a new way of film making, a new way of editing, a new way of techniques in double action scenes so on and so forth.
I have taken some of the instances said by MGR in "Yaruku Vetri" way back in 1958, most of his writing in video format. MGR's education level is so poor but his writing skills is awesome when I read the Special edition by MGR Pictures. How well he knew and how clear his ideas are for instances the technical side, story side, dialogue side, music side, cinematography side, costume side, editing side and how he knew which actors to do which part etc. MGR is multi faceted that was proved if you watch Nadodi Mannan. We cannot put MGR into a position of mere actor alone.
When he talks about the story part he says that I am not blind sided that Nadodi Mannan does not have any minus points and I am not that stupid, but I can say that it does not have more minus points. See how humbly he uses the words. MGR further goes into how the story was developed in the year 1937-38 he was in the shooting of Maya Machindra, in Calcutta (Kolkatta) one day he went with his friends to watch a Hollywood movie "If I were King" acted by Ronald Colman, one of the scene the Hero says If I become a King ... but MGR did not follow what the dialogues his mind was revolving around the words If I become a King. That is the day when Nadodi Mannan was seeded in his mind, it developed slowly when the time was ripe, MGR went on to produce the movie. Why did he produce then? Because he said it is an experiment so I did not want other producers to loose money if the film fails.
First the movie was named Uthamaputhiran with MGR and Nadigar Thilagam with same movie title. MGR then re christened the name into Nadodi Mannan with a hint on it is remake of Prisoner of Zenda at first. In the shooting of Alibaba actress Bhanumathy questioned MGR that she was also producing the same movie with the same story. She asked MGR to discontinue the movie, but MGR said politely that this story only had the King's character from the movie but the others are different. And that he has nurtured the story for years and he has the idea to direct also. She was hesitant at first, then after some days, Bhanumathy told that she has stopped the movie that you can now take the movie as you wish, MGR thanked her whole heartedly. (Can any one in the calibre of MGR can tell the truth like this).
Here is the Intro for most important characters of the movie, starting with M.N.Nambiyar who is also has the right to become King, if you watched whole movie you will understand that MGR has given costly costumes to Nambiyar in this movie, and also that Nambiyar is good looking. Watch for the line of Nambiyar in this clip. Followed by most memorable song "Thoongathey thambi thoongathey" written by Pattukottai Kalyana Sundaram. Followed by the clip showing the camera angle the creativity of MGR and Ramu (Camera Man) imagining the point of view of Bhanumathy through the ventilator shaft. A great achievement of those days for camera angle.
The intro of King MGR in a Chariot, look closely the intricate details of the chariot, it looks very royal. How much did MGR has spent for this chariot alone.
Double Action Scenes:
This is a video clip for the for the technical brilliance of MGR for the movie "Nadodi Mannan" the first conversation scene of King and the Wanderer and other scenes. Those days double action scenes are done by mask shot, that is covering half side of the film and shooting with one character and re shooting the other half of the film with other character. The character and as well the Director and Camera man should know the scene very well and they should have a good memory, the lighting plays a major role also. See editing technique of three individual shots in 2 seconds first shot King MGR walking from the left, next medium long shot showing King MGR, Wanderer MGR and the two ministers third shot both of them all these in 2 seconds. The editor was first Arumugam, he resigned from the project then came Perumal he was upto the editor for Black and white portion, he was unable to work for the remaining portions, and the assistant editors also withdrew from the project the colour portion was completed by Jambu, and he asked MGR not to mention his name in the title card. (This was said by the Director, Producer MGR)
When King and Wanderer starts the conversation about the kingdom and the condition of the poor people the dialogues shifts from the ability of the king and commons, both MGR will be sitting in arms distance, left side was King, right was Wanderer, camera was on the side of Wanderer now then the camera pans to the left for the conversation part of King. The movement part is small or tiny for the camera, you cannot see any jerk as we know both the characters are MGR. Such is the work of the camera man Ramu. Watch the eye movement of Wanderer when King speaks his condition and his plans.
Video clip:
The conversation scene between King and Wanderer is good example for double action scenes, concentration should be on the technical side but remember the dialogues are also very well written and used by MGR, the dialogues are by Kannadasan and Ravindran a good balance between audio and visual.
I added this clip to continue to show the brilliance, very simple technique but awesome to watch. Wanderer as King was speaking with the Queen enacted by M.N.Rajam. These characters standing near a big glass window. M.G.Chakrapani takes King MGR to show him that his wife is cheating King MGR. The camera shows Wanderer and Queen now the camera turns left to show the King entwined by his enemies. First it appeared to me two shots interconnected. I slowed the clip and watched frame by frame there was no jerk, here the distance between both MGR characters are more when compared to the above conversation scene between King and Wanderer. With second one I came to conclusion that Wanderer and Queen shot is back projection and the camera spins to King MGR side that is live character, watch the camera gets inside the set and you can see 3D view of King MGR side.
Dialogue Scenes:
I think this is one movie were MGR has spoken a lot of dialogues the dialogues are not lengthy which is supposed to be protocol for historical movies. The time was 1958 the dialogue was ruling the tamil movie world. Kannadasan who was also a D.M.K. and Ravindran is very close to MGR. Both the writers had one concept that worked well. MGR had told that both of them belonged to same kind of principles that made MGR very easy going with them.
Video clip:
In this clip I took the famous one liners, when Wanderer insists to give him powers to make law, both the Ministers look dumb struck watch now in a second three shots are joined. one shot prime minister looks to the side of Commander, second shot Commander looks to the side of Prime Minister and third the Prime Minister looking to MGR. I conclude that first and third shot are one shot and MGR used the last part of the first shot for third one. Remember the importance is for dialogues only but the visual is balanced evenly.
I added this to glorify MGR because all the Actors in the world have proclaimed some heroic deeds but I feel MGR only had fulfilled what he said in the screen that he had done in his life. Look into the dialogue that he is giving away half of the property to the deaf and dumb. (Remember the Will of MGR in 1986). The other laws Wanderer as King proclaims are the one MGR done in his political career. I think MGR had some time travel mechanism that he knew what are going to be happen in the future.
Video clip:
This one video clip is special that I have touched the cup used by MGR in this movie. Out of these two cups which one I took into my hands I don’t know. Both are looking same. I thank Jr.MGR Pradeep the opportunity to handle the precious glass the important thing which change the Wanderer to become the King.
Only a week is left for the 50th Year of Nadodi Mannan. A special Book is being done by B.S.Raj. The book will be 65 page fully having the details of Nadodi Mannan, the records from 1958 and to the present day re-releases.
Those who are reading this Blog and interested to write about Nadodi Mannan, can send their mail to replytomgr@live.in and write about the most liked scene in Nadodi Mannan, any interesting details about the movie which will be published in this Blog.
Send the mail on or before 21st of August 2008.
The video work on Nadodi Mannan is half finished. This image is taken from the video.
